The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asserted that it is not obligated to follow the Rivers High Court’s recent judgment that reinstated the Chief Emeke Beke-led State Executive Committee. The party argues that it was not a party to the lawsuit, thus making the ruling non-binding on it.

Festus Fuanter, the APC Deputy National Secretary, made this declaration during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, following a closed-door meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC). According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Rivers High Court had annulled the APC Tony Okocha-led Caretaker Committee and reinstated the dissolved Beke-led executive.

Fuanter stated that Beke, who had been removed by a prior court ruling, chose to file an appeal but did not wait for its outcome, which he described as an abuse of court processes.

“We must clearly state that the APC is not bound by the judgment of the Rivers High Court in Suit No: PHC 3592 CS. 2023, which reinstated the dissolved State Executive Committee,” Fuanter said. He explained that the claimant in the case had sued the national chairman and national secretary, not the party itself. “You cannot sue an agent of a disclosed principal,” he added.

He further noted that there is an existing court judgment against Chief Emeka Beke and Iheanyichukwu Azubuike, the former Rivers APC Chairman and Legal Adviser, respectively, which removed them from their positions.

Fuanter emphasized that a court ruling or order does not bind individuals or organizations not involved in the case. Therefore, the APC continues to recognize its Tony Okocha-led Rivers Caretaker Committee, which has been tasked with managing the party’s affairs in the state.

He also confirmed that the APC’s NWC has planned a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for September 12, pending approval from President Bola Tinubu, the party’s national leader.